F&B industry unites at marketing fest 6.0

Bangladesh’s food and beverage industry came together at MAGGI Presents Food & Beverage Marketing Fest 6.0, powered by Bakeman’s & Pusti in association with Mojo & FOODI, brought to you by KONKA, bringing senior business leaders, marketers and industry practitioners onto one platform to discuss the changes shaping the market.

Organised by Brand Practitioners Bangladesh, the sixth edition of the fest was held on 28 August 2026 at the Grand Ballroom, Renaissance Dhaka Gulshan Hotel.

The program featured more than 25 marketers, CEOs, business heads and industry experts across nine-plus focused sessions, with over 300 professionals and industry participants joining the event.

The discussions reflected how changing lifestyles, food habits, distribution models and technology are reshaping how consumers discover, choose and experience food and beverage brands. Consumer insight, brand building, innovation, sales, route-to-market, market expansion, digital acceleration, operations and execution were among the areas covered during the day.

The event opened with the Grand Finale of SUNSHINE Atta Maida Suji presents Food Brillianz Case Competition, built around the theme “The New Food Bangladesh Needs.” Finalist teams presented food and beverage concepts developed around changing consumer needs, product innovation and commercial viability.

The first industry panel, “Exploring Food Market Opportunities, Trends & Future,” examined emerging growth opportunities, shifts in food consumption and the changing competitive landscape.

Moderated by Wakid Haider, Brand & Marketing Lead, Savoy Ice-Cream, the discussion featured Mahabubur Rahman, Head of Business, Sandra Foods International Ltd.; Md Shahriar Reza, Brand Manager, Akij Venture Ltd.; Shakila Yasmin, Category Lead, Spice & Mustard Oil, IFAD Multi Products Limited; Mujahidul Islam, Portfolio Manager, Baked Food Unit, City Group; and Md. Neamul Quader, Head of Marketing, Dekko Foods Limited.

A dedicated Fireside Chat titled “From Consumer Mind to Market Growth: Food Business & Marketing 7.0” brought together Ashraf Bin Taj, Managing Director, IDC BD PLC, and Surayya Siddiqua, Managing Director, Grameen Danone Foods Limited.

The conversation examined how food businesses can move from understanding consumers to creating measurable market growth. Framed through the lens of Marketing 7.0, the discussion connected consumer insight with technology, market intelligence, product relevance, value creation and execution, highlighting how brands can respond more effectively to changing consumer behaviour while building sustainable long-term growth.

The event also featured several Insight Sessions, each focused on a specific business challenge.

Chowdhury Tasmiah Jabeen, Business Manager, ACI Foods Limited, presented “Shifts in Consumer Behaviour in the Foods Industry: From Convenience to Conscious Choices.” The session examined how consumers are increasingly balancing convenience with health, value, quality and lifestyle considerations when making food choices.

Syed Iqbal Mahmud Hossain, Sales Director, Nestlé Bangladesh PLC, spoke on “Winning the Market Through Route to Market, Sales Excellence & Digital Acceleration.” The session addressed how distribution, sales capability and digital acceleration can work together to strengthen market reach and execution.

Md Shafiqul Islam Tushar, Executive Director (Marketing), Akij Bakers Limited, delivered “A Brand: Launch to Habit.” The session explored the journey of a food brand beyond launch, particularly the transition from consumer awareness and trial to repeat purchase and regular consumption.

Another Single Insight Session, “Creating New Foods & Markets in a Changing Food & Beverage Landscape,” was led by G M Kamrul Hassan, Chief Executive Officer, IGLOO Category. The session examined how changing consumption occasions, emerging needs and shifts in consumer behaviour can create opportunities for new products, categories and markets.

A major leadership discussion, “From Vision to Value: Building Profitable Food Brands,” brought together senior business executives to examine how brand ambition is converted into sustainable commercial value.

The panel featured Naharul Islam Molla, Managing Director, Unilever Consumer Care Limited; Towfique Hasan, CBDO, Akij Resource; Mohammad Mofassel Haque, Business Director, T.K. Group; and Dr. Khaleda Islam, Professor & Former Director, Institute of Nutrition & Food Science, University of Dhaka.

Moderated by Sumaiya Mutiatur, Joint Director, Brand & Communications, Padakhep Manabik Unnayan Kendra, the CEO-level discussion covered consumer opportunity, portfolio decisions, brand investment, execution and profitability.

The operational side of growth was addressed through the CXO-focused discussion “Driving Food Business Growth Through Operations, Sales & Market Execution.”

The panel featured AKM Zabed, Chief Operating Officer, Dekko Foods Limited; Md. Akterul Alam Shah, Chief Operating Officer, Akij Essentials Ltd.; and Raquibul Matin, Director, Sales & Business, Savoy Ice-Cream. Ashfaqur Rahman, Chief Operating Officer, Kazi & Kazi Tea Estate Ltd., moderated the session.

The discussion focused on what happens after strategy is set, including operational discipline, sales execution, distribution, cross-functional coordination and responsiveness to changing market conditions. It examined the role of execution quality in turning strategic plans into commercial results.

Marketing communication and brand building were explored in “Shaping Food Brands Through Strategy, Insights & Marketing Innovation.”

The panel included Md. Aktaruzzaman, Head of Marketing, Nabil Group; Md. Mahadi Faisal, Director, Marketing & Growth, ACI Logistics Limited (Shwapno); Kazi Mohiuddin, CMO, Meghna Group of Industries; and Shah Shaifullah Al Zakerin, Group Manager, Digital Media, Mediacom Limited. The discussion was moderated by Lutfi Chowdhury, Co-Founder & CEO, Adfinix.

The session covered brand strategy, consumer insight, digital media and the role of marketing innovation as food and consumer businesses adapt to increasingly fragmented and digitally influenced markets.

Across the program, the discussions reflected how closely consumer understanding, branding, pricing, sales, distribution, operations, technology and market execution are connected within the modern food business.

The event also featured the 10th issue of Business Brillianz, adding an editorial and industry-documentation component to the gathering.

Senior business leaders supporting the event also shared their perspectives on the relevance of the platform to their respective businesses and industries.

Syed Iqbal Mahmud Hossain, Sales Director, Nestlé Bangladesh PLC, said, “It is encouraging to see a platform that starts with consumer insight and pushes ideas toward meaningful food innovation.” Md Shafiqul Islam Tushar, Executive Director (Marketing), Akij Bakers Limited, said, “We are pleased to support a platform that looks beyond product ideas and considers how brands become part of everyday consumer habits.”Mohammad Mofassel Haque, Business Director, T.K. Group, said, “The strongest ideas are the ones that connect innovation with a real market opportunity. That is what makes this platform interesting for us.”

Md. Shahnewas Mannan, Chief Executive Officer, foodi, said, “Technology is changing how people discover and experience food. We are glad to support a conversation that looks at that shift from a broader business perspective.” Md Nurul Afser, Group CEO & Deputy Managing Director, Electro Mart Group, said, “Consumer lifestyles are changing, and so is the way people prepare, store and experience food. That makes this program highly relevant to the businesses around the category.”

Outside the formal sessions, Food & Beverage Marketing Fest 6.0 provided opportunities for professionals from food manufacturing, beverages, retail, distribution, sales, technology, marketing and related sectors to exchange perspectives and develop new business connections, partnerships and collaborations.

Mirza Md. Ileush, Founder & Managing Director, Brand Practitioners Bangladesh, said the fest was designed to connect different parts of the industry through practical conversations.

“Food and beverage today is not only about the product. Consumer behaviour, distribution, technology, branding and execution are increasingly connected. Through Food & Beverage Marketing Fest 6.0, we wanted to bring the people making those decisions together and create conversations that can contribute to the industry’s next stage of growth,” Ileush said.

The event was supported by Presenting Partner MAGGI, Powered by Bakeman’s and Pusti, In Association with Mojo and FOODI, Brought to You By KONKA, Platinum Partners Ispahani, ACI Pure, AKIJ Essential and Nabil Group, Munch Partner RUCHI, Nutrition Partner Shokti+, Ice Cream Partner Savoy Ice Cream, Powder Drink Partner DEKKO FruitFunda, Rice Partner Ovijat, Organic Partner Kazi & Kazi Tea, Electrolyte Partner ACI Electrolyte Drinks, Grocery Partner Khaas Food, Tissue Partner Partex Clean Tissue, Tableware Partner Monno Ceramics, HoReCa Partner Café Kiva Han and Publication Partner Business Brillianz.